I've just been given the yellow card. Don't want the red one.

[Goodnessknows]

Last Wednesday I was told that I'm pre diabetic. In the range 42 to 48 I'm 43 glucose level. No wonder I was feeling so tired. I was also told my BMI (89 kgs to 5.7 height) meant my BMI was 30.80 or thereabouts. On checking the statistics on line I found out that meant I was obese until I checked the waist measurement relating to BMI. 32inches means I would have been in that bracket. My waist measurement is actually 28 inches, I've a strong frame and muscles - apparently that too affects BMI. Even so I took action. My weight today - Monday, less than two weeks after the pre diabetic news - is 86kgs. That's 6 kgs gone - half a stone? Purely cutting down on carbs including wine. Feeling invigorated.

[cheritorrox]

Welcome! Someone from admin will be along to give you lots of info about the community and what's going on. It sounds like you've already discovered that carbs are the culprit! If you want more info here's a link to the Public Health Collaboration publication about this:

phcuk.org/eat-fat-cut-the-c...

And here's another with various "resources" I came across when researching lchf. (There's a separate forum for this too)

healthunlocked.com/lchf-die...

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to cheritorrox]

You'll see by the badge that Goodnessknows was welcomed last month and given all the info, cheritorrox

They may now like to join today's weigh-in/daily diary/challenge?

[cheritorrox in reply to moreless]

Oh dear - I think you mentioned Specsavers elsewhere.... Sorry Goodnessknows!

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to cheritorrox]

We all belong to the very exclusive 'Can't see for looking club'

[Goodnessknows in reply to moreless]

Thanks to you all. I'm not a junk foodie at all, binge on fruit and green veg, dislike pasta, pizza and can resist chips, rice and pastries. My downfall is wine - four glasses per evening, plus two vodkas and coke. So last Wednesday was D day - or rather no more wine day. The resultant weight loss was breathtaking plus I no longer feel tired. Been to the gym today and walked there. Funny that so many people arrive in cars. Isn't that defeating the purpose?

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to Goodnessknows]

Booze wasn't one of my vices, thank goodness, but it's amazing to see how it was contributing to your weight gain, but more importantly, to your blood sugar levels. Well done for getting it under control!

I've never seen the attraction for sweaty, smelly, germ-infested gyms, much preferring to walk/run/cycle in the fresh air, with nature all around and I frequently drive to just the right spot!

[Gizmocat Moderator 13kg Maintainer]

Well done on a great loss. Those blood sugars will soon be back to normal. I was told I was prediabetic last July. I lost 6kg on the weight loss plan counting calories and started doing more exercise mainly walking .In November my blood sugars were down from 44 to 39 and normal. My BMI is down from 32 to 29 overweight rather than obese. It wasn't until I joined this forum I found out that carbs were the problem so started cutting down. It just shows what a difference eating healthily and carefully makes.

There is lots of info about lchf on that forum if are interested. TheAwfulToad and Hidden are full of useful information so look out for them but it sounds like you are on right track already. Keep it up!

[Goodnessknows in reply to Gizmocat]

Thanks for this and well done you! I was in denial before this. I don't look obese and my waist size does throw the BMI around, but couldn't believe how tired I felt. I was always an early riser but was still asleep by nine, even later sometimes and then still tired when I did get up. Feeling so much better already. Off on holiday Thursday but determined to keep on track. Like you I will be called back in June. Determined to 'show off' when I do.

[Gizmocat Moderator 13kg Maintainer in reply to Goodnessknows]

Sometimes it takes a health scare to give you a kick up the backside and make you face facts. It certainly did for me. I knew I was overweight but thought I was healthy. I went to the gp for something totally unrelated and was told my bp was high and prediabetic. It definitely motivated me to do something about it due to family history.

I'm glad you have noticed a difference so quickly. I think cutting out alcohol makes a difference due to the amount of sugar in it. I don't drink a lot normally but went to a dinner on Saturday and had several glasses of wine. I have noticed difference including a weight gain this week.

Enjoy your holiday!

[Goodnessknows in reply to Gizmocat]

I totally agree with you. It was indeed a wake up call. Both my brothers suffered from diabetes and so did my mother who went blind and lost a leg. Both grandmothers too. I refuse to go there. Have even got an exercise bike next to my computer. It's Chinese made so nothing like the ones at the gym, but every so often I get up from the computer and do ten minutes. Helps my back too.

[Gizmocat Moderator 13kg Maintainer in reply to Goodnessknows]

It's quite scary to think about isn't it? My grandmother died of a heart attack related to diabetes. My mum died recently after suffering from vascular dementia following a stroke. She had type 2 diabetes. My grandfather also had a stroke. Diabetes was never mentioned in his case but I think it possible he could have had it too.

It certainly gives you food for thought and makes you want to do whatever you can to avoid going the same way.

[Goodnessknows in reply to Gizmocat]

Have you looked at the Diabetes UK site? It's very enlightening.

[Goodnessknows]

I absolutely understand that. It's medically acknowledged that exercise following a meal neutralises excess sugars (glucose). I got this from the Diabetes UK site plus a clearer definition of ketosis - the body burning ketones instead of carbs which is what happens when you reduce carbs to a minimum. Luckily I'm not a big carb eater so doing away with the wine was the right thing to do.

[Goodnessknows]

My aim is not to ever have to use insulin medication. Being told I was pre diabetic was enough to make me take action.

[Bowie63]

I was told exactly the same thing a couple of weeks ago, it has kicked me into action too. I have lost 8lbs in two weeks, I`m hoping to lose at least two stone in three months, so I can go back to the nurse with a point proven (also to do it for myself). I have cut out all alcohol for the moment, also all junk, like crisps, chocolate , etc. My big downfall was loafing in front of the telly in the evening, eating crap. I have replaced that with celery and carrot, with a low fat dip, and also eat a lot more fruit, I still loaf in front of the telly though! I also walk briskly for a mile a day, I`m hoping I can increase that as the weight comes off, and I bought a second hand exercise bike. I am determined to do everything I can to NOT become diabetic.

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to Bowie63]

Hello and welcome Bowie63 😊

If you haven’t already, then please read the Welcome post here which has lots of useful information about all the things we have on offer healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Minor word of caution, please be wary of eating a low fat diet . . . Fat is an essential nutrient and needed for vitamin absolutely as well as satiety. For more help with meals please have a look at the Daily Diary.

I also recommend joining a group weigh-in, details in the Welcome message above

Best wishes in your weight loss journey

Indigo 😊

[Goodnessknows]

It was purely the booze with me though I've also stopped eating bread and potatoes - not that I ate a lot of them. The nurse looked at me in disbelief when I said I disliked pasta and didn't eat that many carbs - or chocolate and never eat crisps. I now go to the gym 3 times a week and bought a really naff exercise bike that I've placed next to my computer for those days when I don't go out for a walk or to the gym (which is uphill all the way). A bit of advice I read was to get up from whatever you're doing - including watching TV - every 30 minutes. That was from a diabetic lifestyle book. Apparently it causes the pancreas to use whatever carbs are stored thus preventing an insulin spike. No way do I want to go there. Congrats to you losing 8lb in two weeks. I've only been at it less than a week but really pleased with the results so far. Keep in touch. Would love to know how you get on.